They were all disciples of the Tiangang Sect. While the Tiangang Sect was not comparable to major sects like Baiyun Villa, it was still a well-known faction in the vicinity of Yunjing. They had always behaved somewhat arrogantly. Although the imperial court had crushed the three great sects, making these martial arts sects quite wary, the Tiangang Sect had been the first to pledge allegiance to the court. The sect master was even personally enfeoffed as the Marquis of Tianwu by the Sovereign Lord. As a result, the disciples of the Tiangang Sect were even more flamboyant and overbearing than before. This was precisely why these disciples dared to cause trouble in the Yunman Tower...

This burly man was named Yue Longkuang, the eldest disciple among the younger generation of the Tiangang Sect. He was a genuine Xiantian master, and in a place teeming with experts like Yunjing, he was certainly considered among the elite. Yet, he had just been repelled by a mere youngster who looked scarcely out of the cradle. How could this not shock people?

Despite their astonishment, seeing that their senior brother was gaining no advantage over the opponent, these men immediately surrounded Ye Jingyu and his companions...

Seeing the commotion, the other patrons began to scatter, with many even paying their bills and leaving outright. Such clashes between martial artists were not something they could afford to get involved in; a single errant blow could spell disaster...

Ye Jingyu remained silent, merely gazing coldly at the burly man, his thoughts inscrutable. Meanwhile, Xiao Taotao, whom he had restrained, struggled free of his grip and scampered back onto the table, resuming her feasting as if oblivious to the unfolding drama...

"What, are you actually planning to fight here?" Ye Jingyu asked coldly upon seeing the group surround him...

"I don't wish to fight. Just leave those two women here to have a few drinks with my junior brothers, and I absolutely won't trouble you," Yue Longkuang replied coldly, though a murderous intent already flickered in his eyes...

As the eldest disciple of the Tiangang Sect, reaching the Xiantian realm by his early thirties spoke of considerable martial accomplishment. He had always commanded great prestige among his junior brothers, but now, being pushed back by a youth barely seventeen or eighteen years old—how could he save face? If he didn't regain his honor, how could he accept this?

"And if I refuse?" Ye Jingyu continued to speak calmly...

"Then die!" the burly man roared, his massive frame lunging toward Ye Jingyu, unleashing a punch that gathered the full force of his Zhenqi. Instantly, streaks of light flashed from his fist, and a sizzling sound filled the air—the sound of the atmosphere being torn apart by Zhenqi...

The punch had not yet landed, but the imposing fist aura, condensed from invincible Xiantian Zhenqi, was already upon them...

An unimaginable pressure descended, causing Hu Yanqi, Hu Yanmeng behind Ye Jingyu, as well as Luo Ling'er, Xiao Linzi, and the servants, to retreat repeatedly. This was the might of a Xiantian Martial Master...

Even Ye Jingyu felt an overwhelming pressure. This was his first time facing a true Xiantian master. He had seen them fight before, but never grasped the true terror; he had even witnessed a Grandmaster fall, leading him to believe that Martial Masters, even Xiantian ones, were within his ability to challenge. But facing one directly now, he finally understood the profound power of a Xiantian expert...

Unlike the sheer brute force of Chi Yixiu, Yue Longkuang’s seemingly simple punch contained endless variations, locking onto him so tightly that evasion seemed impossible; he could only meet it head-on...

However, against that indestructible Xiantian Zhenqi, even with his physically tough body, Ye Jingyu lacked absolute certainty in withstanding the blow. After all, that Zhenqi could shatter iron armor; surely his own body couldn't be stronger than that?

"Hah!" Facing the terrifying punch, Ye Jingyu suddenly roared, a silver gleam flashing in his eyes, and a streak of bloody light shot out from within him, aimed directly at Yue Longkuang's eyes...

Sensing the sudden blood-light attack, Yue Longkuang was greatly alarmed and swiftly retreated. The might of his imposing punch instantly shattered...

Ye Jingyu seized the opportunity, taking a sudden stride forward, concentrating the strength of his entire body, and slammed a fierce punch toward Yue Longkuang’s chest...

His speed was extreme, in no way inferior to a Xiantian Martial Master. He covered the distance in nearly a single step, arriving before Yue Longkuang, who, thrown off balance by dodging the blood-light, was in no position to defend...

"Rumble..." A deafening crash echoed. Yue Longkuang's massive body was sent flying backward by Ye Jingyu's single punch, slamming heavily into the window sill behind him, which instantly splintered to dust. His body was blasted out of the tavern and landed heavily on the ground, immediately spitting out a mouthful of blood...

"Senior Brother!" Seeing their leader sent flying by an opponent’s punch, the faces of the other Tiangang Sect disciples changed drastically, and they rushed toward their senior brother...

"You scoundrel! Using a hidden weapon!" Another group continued to surround Ye Jingyu and his companions, hurling curses...

Ye Jingyu did not press the attack. Setting aside the fact that he was in Yunjing where indiscriminate killing was forbidden, even if he could, killing a Xiantian master now was difficult. They truly lived up to their reputation; their Xiantian Zhenqi was indeed unbreakable. If he hadn't used his Soul Power at the last moment to launch the blood needle surprise attack, breaking Yue Longkuang's Zhenqi, he would have been the one sent flying...

Witnessing Ye Jingyu knock back a Xiantian Martial Master with one punch, those patrons who hadn't left the tavern stared in shock. Especially those who knew Yue Longkuang, none had expected the arrogant fellow to be defeated by a youth of seventeen or eighteen—although the youth's method was somewhat dishonorable...

Luo Ling'er’s bright, expressive eyes blinked rapidly, and a faint blush spread across her pretty face, though whether from excitement or something else was unclear...

As for Yue Longkuang, he was helped back to his feet by his junior brothers. Wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth, he raised a hand to silence their angry protests and spoke with great astonishment: "That wasn't a hidden weapon. That was a Soul Artifact. You... you are actually a Soul Master..."

Upon hearing the words "Soul Master," the noisy scene immediately fell silent. Everyone—the Tiangang Sect disciples and the remaining customers alike—stared at Ye Jingyu in astonishment...

A Soul Master, the most mysterious and noble of practitioners...

He was a Soul Master...

A Soul Master whose physical strength could send a Xiantian Martial Master flying? How was this possible?

It was known that most Soul Masters devoted themselves to the Way of the Soul, pursuing longevity, rarely concerning themselves with the physical body. To them, a powerful soul was the foundation; the death of the body meant little. Thus, Soul Masters typically appeared frail and weak. How could any Soul Master repel a Xiantian Martial Master relying purely on physical force? It was as unbelievable as a sow learning to climb trees...

Meanwhile, on the second floor of the Yunman Tower, a young man dressed in a white brocade robe rose from his seat upon hearing the words "Soul Master," turning his gaze toward the commotion. When he saw Ye Jingyu’s face, his expression shifted dramatically, and he involuntarily muttered, "It's him..."